Secret, illegal treehouse becomes famous

Joel Allen's "The HemLoft." Allen told seattlepi.com this week that he isn't living in the treehouse due to "liability reasons." He wanted to keep the site clean and reduce such hazards as fires. less

Joel Allen's "The HemLoft." Allen told seattlepi.com this week that he isn't living in the treehouse due to "liability reasons." He wanted to keep the site clean and reduce such hazards as ... more

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But the HemLoft is open to the public. "The only catch is, people have to be able to find it to visit it," Allen said. "The location is still a secret, however, some of the Whistler locals have been able to connect the clues and figure out where it is." less

But the HemLoft is open to the public. "The only catch is, people have to be able to find it to visit it," Allen said. "The location is still a secret, however, some of the Whistler locals have been able to ... more

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Before Allen built the HemLoft, he was living in his car after losing his job. He was also practicing the art of "sport sleeping," which involves sleeping in weird spots like tractor buckets and hollowed-out logs. less

Before Allen built the HemLoft, he was living in his car after losing his job. He was also practicing the art of "sport sleeping," which involves sleeping in weird spots like tractor buckets and hollowed-out ... more

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It took Allen three years to build the house. After he finished last August, he and his girlfriend moved in for a short stint, before leaving for a scheduled trip. Allen wrote of bathing in nearby lakes, watching a bear, and picking twigs from their hair before heading to town for espresso. less

It took Allen three years to build the house. After he finished last August, he and his girlfriend moved in for a short stint, before leaving for a scheduled trip. Allen wrote of bathing in nearby lakes, ... more

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Why build it? “The driving force behind the whole thing was a simple, yet inexorable desire to build something cool. There were no practical motives or profound meanings. The fact that it was hiding below some of the richest properties in Western Canada wasn’t a political statement, it just happened to be where I found the perfect tree," Allen wrote. less

Why build it? “The driving force behind the whole thing was a simple, yet inexorable desire to build something cool. There were no practical motives or profound meanings. The fact that it was hiding below ... more

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The 200-square-foot HemLoft includes a tiny workspace. A self-taught carpenter, Allen found free materials for his house on Craigslist.

The 200-square-foot HemLoft includes a tiny workspace. A self-taught carpenter, Allen found free materials for his house on Craigslist.

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The HemLoft sports skylights and views of snow-capped mountains.

The HemLoft sports skylights and views of snow-capped mountains.

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A poll on Allen's site on what he should do with the treehouse - save it or tear it down - has garnered 14,000 votes, with most wanting to save it.

A poll on Allen's site on what he should do with the treehouse - save it or tear it down - has garnered 14,000 votes, with most wanting to save it.

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Allen said he wants to mitigate liabilities to help make the idea of the squatting treehouse more "permissable" to authorities.

Allen said he wants to mitigate liabilities to help make the idea of the squatting treehouse more "permissable" to authorities.

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A little bit of storage and display space.

A little bit of storage and display space.

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In a recent TV interview, Canada's Minister of Forests said the HemLoft presented a "tough situation" for authorities, Allen said. But no action has been taken.

In a recent TV interview, Canada's Minister of Forests said the HemLoft presented a "tough situation" for authorities, Allen said. But no action has been taken.

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What's the future of his treehouse? "This is all highly experimental and I have no idea what will happen at the end of the day," Allen said.

What's the future of his treehouse? "This is all highly experimental and I have no idea what will happen at the end of the day," Allen said.

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The HemLoft.

The HemLoft.

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The HemLoft.

The HemLoft.

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The HemLoft.

The HemLoft.

Secret, illegal treehouse becomes famous

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Want to visit this elegant treehouse, featured recently on the glossy pages of the trendy design magazine Dwell? It’s open to the public, but you’ll have to figure out the location yourself.

That’s because the location of this egg-shaped, sylvan abode north of Vancouver is still mostly a secret. For three years, builder Joel Allen has kept the whereabouts of the “HemLoft” a mystery, because he built it on government land in Whistler without permits.

Then he invited Dwell to profile it. The attention last month was nice for Allen, a 31-year-old software designer who lost his job in 2006. But it came with a downside.

Allen now worries that authorities may tear down his tiny house suspended from a giant Hemlock. His story has since gone viral, with growing support to save the treehouse and more than 26,000 Facebook “likes” for a website devoted to it.

Can you figure out where the HemLoft is? Check out the photos for details. And if you like treehouses, here’s a list of some beautiful local ones closer to Seattle.

Photo: Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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1. Local treehouse builder Pete Nelson built this house - called ''Temple of the Blue Moon'' - on his Fall City property called <a href=''http://treehousepoint.com''>Treehouse Point</a>. It wraps around a Sitka spruce, took its inspiration from the Parthenon, and measures 256 square feet. It's available for overnight stays.
Most of the treehouses featured in this gallery were designed or photographed by Pete Nelson. less

1. Local treehouse builder Pete Nelson built this house - called ''Temple of the Blue Moon'' - on his Fall City property called <a href=''http://treehousepoint.com''>Treehouse Point</a>. It wraps around a ... more

Photo: Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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2. <a href=''http://freespiritspheres.com''/>''Free Spirit Spheres''</a> are also available for rentals. The Vancouver island orbs hang from rope webs. This one measures 10½ feet in diameter and is made of laminated Sitka spruce and fiberglass.
Local treehouse builder Pete Nelson says being inside one of the spheres feels like being in a swaying boat or a “giant nut.” less

2. <a href=''http://freespiritspheres.com''/>''Free Spirit Spheres''</a> are also available for rentals. The Vancouver island orbs hang from rope webs. This one measures 10½ feet in diameter and is made of ... more

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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3. “Trillium,” another structure at Nelson’s Treehouse Point, is perched on a western red cedar. It’s 200 square feet and reachable by a spiral staircase.

3. “Trillium,” another structure at Nelson’s Treehouse Point, is perched on a western red cedar. It’s 200 square feet and reachable by a spiral staircase.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson

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The inside of Trillium features two stories of glass paneling, accentuating the leafy setting.

The inside of Trillium features two stories of glass paneling, accentuating the leafy setting.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson

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4. ''Pat and Lori’s treehouse'': This Western Washington treehouse, designed by Nelson, includes a full-scale steel bridge that carries half the treehouse's estimated 80,000 pounds. Two Douglas firs, plus heavy hardware, carry the other half. less

4. ''Pat and Lori’s treehouse'': This Western Washington treehouse, designed by Nelson, includes a full-scale steel bridge that carries half the treehouse's estimated 80,000 pounds. Two Douglas firs, plus ... more

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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5. “Shara’s treehouse”: Nelson helped design this Issaquah treehouse, which floats on four Douglas trees and one broadleaf maple. Stairs descend to a hot tub deck and zip line platform.

5. “Shara’s treehouse”: Nelson helped design this Issaquah treehouse, which floats on four Douglas trees and one broadleaf maple. Stairs descend to a hot tub deck and zip line platform.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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6. “Heidi’s treehouse chalet:” This 450-square-foot house in Poulsbo was designed in a Swiss chalet style, with a ramp for older people, instead of the usual stairs or ladder.

6. “Heidi’s treehouse chalet:” This 450-square-foot house in Poulsbo was designed in a Swiss chalet style, with a ramp for older people, instead of the usual stairs or ladder.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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Fit for a hobbit? Oh wait, they live subterranean-style. Heidi’s chalet features leaded glass windows, as seen here in this bedroom nook.

Fit for a hobbit? Oh wait, they live subterranean-style. Heidi’s chalet features leaded glass windows, as seen here in this bedroom nook.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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The sleeping loft in Heidi's treehouse chalet.

The sleeping loft in Heidi's treehouse chalet.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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7. No local treehouse gallery would be complete without this structure once inhabited by Dave Csaky, aka ''Squirrelman.'' Csaky lived here, in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, for two years, until the city evicted him in 2008. less

7. No local treehouse gallery would be complete without this structure once inhabited by Dave Csaky, aka ''Squirrelman.'' Csaky lived here, in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, for two years, until the city ... more

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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Dave Csaky pulls up the ladder to his treehouse in the Eastlake neighborhood in 2008. Many residents had become fond of Csaky and his home, which had become a neighborhood fixture.

Dave Csaky pulls up the ladder to his treehouse in the Eastlake neighborhood in 2008. Many residents had become fond of Csaky and his home, which had become a neighborhood fixture.

Photo: Joshua Trujillo / Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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8. You don't need to live in a remote forest to have a pretty treehouse. Nelson designed this one for a client in Seattle.

8. You don't need to live in a remote forest to have a pretty treehouse. Nelson designed this one for a client in Seattle.

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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This treehouse isn't in the Northwest, but it was photographed by Nelson, so consider it a bonus. It's part of the Beach Rock Village in Okinawa, Japan, where it sits atop a canopy of Chinese hackberry trees. less

This treehouse isn't in the Northwest, but it was photographed by Nelson, so consider it a bonus. It's part of the Beach Rock Village in Okinawa, Japan, where it sits atop a canopy of Chinese hackberry ... more

Photo: Photo by Pete Nelson/New Treehouses of the World

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9. ''Out 'n' About Treesort'': This remote wonderland in Takilma, Ore. features 18 treehouses and bunch of horses, forts, ziplines and swinging bridges. It's on 36 acres in the Siskiyou National Forest. Pictured here is the ''Swiss Family'' complex, in which a bridge connects two houses. less

9. ''Out 'n' About Treesort'': This remote wonderland in Takilma, Ore. features 18 treehouses and bunch of horses, forts, ziplines and swinging bridges. It's on 36 acres in the Siskiyou National Forest. ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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10. Another treehouse at Nelson's Treehouse Point. This one is called Upper Pond.

10. Another treehouse at Nelson's Treehouse Point. This one is called Upper Pond.